Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 9 · Sermon 72
SERMON LXXII.
Some Helps and Encouragements to thoſe that are diſcouraged, becauſe of the fruitleſneſs of their Reſolutions to Repent, or the hainouſneſs of their Sinnes.
EZEK. 33. 11.
Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye dye, O houſe of Iſrael?
WE have endeavored to make plain thoſe Mountains, that are in the way to our Converſion, and turning to God: Now it remaineth, that we exalt ſome Valleys, and remove thoſe diſcouragements that are on mens ſpirits, while in the general, they ſeem to deſire and purpoſe to turn unto God. I acknowledge, theſe valleys are not ſo many as the mountains; diſcouragements and dejections not ſo frequent, as preſumptious; more are fondly perſwaded of the eaſineſs to turn to God, then the difficulty: which is clearly evidenced, by the ſecure and negligent diſpoſition of moſt, that though they hear never ſo much about this duty of turning to God, yet never conſider or apply, never make any matter, whether they are turned unto God or not. I will not be too long in enumeration of the uſual dejections in this kinde; I ſhall inſtance in one or two, which will in effect ſerve for the reſt: And
Firſt, There are ſome who ſay, They have many purpoſes and deſires to turn to God, they have frequently reſolved to forſake their ſins, but then theſe quickly periſh 1. Diſcouragements in ſome mens ſpirits, hindring them from turning unto God. That they often reſolve, but finde no power to turn.again, and ſo they think it is in vain to try any more: They do but as the man, that is rolling a great ſtone upon the hill, which preſently returneth with the greater force: They are as a man ſtriving and rowing hard againſt the ſtream, but immediately is forced as much backward, as ever he got forward: And I cannot but think, that this is a ſad objection upon many mens hearts, who have their times of relenting, of much ſorrow and trouble, and then take up high reſolutions, They will never live, or be as they have been; in the minde they are in, all the temptations in the world ſhall never prevail over them any more. Now to help ſuch out of their diſconſolateneſs; Conſider
Firſt, That it may be theſe purpoſes they have, are not hearty, real, and fully conquering the heart: They are but a kinde of wiſhes and deſires, ſuch as Balaams, 1. Helps.Oh, that I might dye the death of the Righteous: They are but faint wiſhing and woulding, as we ſay, and this will never do any good: They are ſuch deſires as the Sluggard is ſaid to have, which yet doth ſcarce draw his hand out of his boſom to help himſelf: Its not as the phraſe is, To cleave to the Lord with full purpoſe of heart; as Paul ſaid in another caſe, I could wiſh to be made an Anathema, ſo thou couldeſt wiſh to be ſeparated from thy luſts, thou couldſt deſire to be a new convert; but theſe are ſuch languiſhing motions, that they are like thoſe living Creatures, foreign, that live but for a day; there comes up a worm, that quickly conſumes theſe gourds. The deſires of a man in his converſion, are compared to Hunger and Thirſt, to Panting and Breathing, all which are the moſt violent and impatient motions of a man: Can a man be hungry, ready to be ſtarved, and ſit ſtill crying, O that I had food? no, it will break through ſtone walls. You ſee what the hungry Lepers did, 2 Kings 7. 8. deſperately ventured even into their enemies quarters, that they might be ſatisfied: And thus, if thy purpoſes and reſolutions were full and ſtrong, no luſt, no temptation could be ſo ſtrong as to hold thee any longer; but now they are half deſires, and faint wiſhes, and God hath made no promiſe to ſuch, that they ſhall be ſatisfied. Auſtin ſpeaks of himſelf before his converſion, how he had many deſires and reſolutions to leave his ſins, which made him pray to God, that God would give him grace to part with them, yet at that very time he was afraid (he ſaith) that God ſhould hear his prayers; he was afraid God ſhould do that for him, he deſired: And thus it may be with thee, thou haſt many affections and deſires to forſake thy ſins, frequent relentings, yet if it ſhould come to it indeed, that thou muſt be taken from them, it would be a trouble to thee; all which argueth, thou art not real, fully bent againſt them.
Secondly, As theſe purpoſes are but weak and faint, ſo it may be they are ſlaviſh in thee, extorted onelyonly from outward conſiderations of danger and puniſhment, in fear 2.of death, and of publique judgements: Now if ſo, its no wonder if theſe thorns do not bear grapes: This is often in the Scripture exemplified, Ahab, Pharaoh, the Iſraelites; while the ſtrok of Gods judgements was upon them, then they would turn to God: Thus the Iſraelites turned and turned very often, but they turned from God again, as often as they turned unto him: Now the ground of this miſcarriage was, becauſe theſe purpoſes were violently wrung from them, they dared not to do otherwiſe; and ſo when the cauſe was removed, the effect preſently ceaſed. Look then, what it is that is the riſe of thy reſolutions; thou reſolveſt and reſolveſt ſometimes, even with ſad and bitter tears, but thou art after wards where thou wert before; Is not this that which marreth all? Theſe reſolutions never are, but when thou art in ſome fears, in ſome terrors, and theſe violent things therefore will never hold long: They will hold as long as the principle of their violence holdeth; but when that ceaſeth, all thy purpoſes fall to the ground again. Never then wonder to ſee the Iſraelites commit thoſe idolatryes, and that injuſtice, which ſometimes they cryed out off, and confeſſed to God; for all this was ſqueezed from them, not willingly done by them: O then! if thou wouldſt at laſt ſee a ſweet harmony, between thy reſolution and converſation, begin to mend thy purpoſes; let them not be reſolves out of fear, but out of love: O Lord (ſay) not onelyonly in time of danger, but in the midſt of all mercies and comforts, my ſoul breathes after thee: Its not fear of hell and death makes me take up theſe concluſions, but love to thee, and what is holy: Thou mayeſt be ſure, this will hold, thou wilt be the ſame, if this move thee firſt. Thou wilt be no longer, as the man that purgeth his ſhip, which leaketh, and water comes in at one place, as faſt as it is emptied at another; but thou haſt laid a good and ſure foundation to build upon.
Thirdly, Thy purpoſes vaniſh away without execution, becauſe it may be they art onelyonly ſudden and flaſhy, they continue but for a ſeaſon: They come like ſuddain lightning, 3.that makes an aſtoniſhment for the preſent, but immediately is gone: Thus Balaams deſires were upon a ſudden apprehenſion of Gods glorious providence to his Church. Agrippa was almoſt perſwaded to be a Chriſtian, for that time while Paul was preaching; ſo that thoſe purpoſes, which are not conſtant not rooted, will dye as ſoon as they begin to live. As our Saviour ſpeaks of a temporary ſaith which doth immediately ſpring up, and immediately wither; ſo Mat. 13.theſe reſolutions, they do preſently riſe up, while we are preaching, and while you are hearing, but then as ſoon as the duty is over, thy purpoſes are over: Therefore as David prayed for the people, that offered ſo willingly, God keep this always in their hearts, 1 Chron. 29. 18. ſo ſhouldſt thou, O Lord, not at this time onelyonly, but always make my ſpirit thus reſolute, thus fixed againſt iniquity; let not theſe holy motions of thy good ſpirit dye within me. Its not the having of godly reſolutions to turn unto God, but the powerful retaining of them, and making uſe of them in time of need, that doth avail and help us: Why then art thou ſo diſquieted within thee? the cauſe is plain, thou mayeſt ſee clearly what is to be done: Let not thoſe reſolutions of thine, be as pilgrims and ſtrangers, that lodge but for a night; let them rather be as the fire upon the Altar, that never went out. As it is ſaid of the wicked man, that he cannot ſleep, till he hath accompliſhed his miſchieef; ſo do thou take no reſt, till the godly purpoſes of thy ſoul be fulfilled.
Fourthly, Thou complaineſt, that thou art driven from thy reſolutions to 4.turn unto God: Then reſolve more in the grace and power of God, not in thy own humane ſtrength and confidence: This makes men fall again as often as they riſe, they think to ſtand by their own power. Certainly, if in ordinary common things, we may not peremptorily reſolve to do ſuch and ſuch things, but to expect his aid and providence, if God will; much more in ſpiritual duties: ſay then to all thy ſins, which have ſo frequently conquered thee, as David to Goliah, I come unto thee in the name of the Lord, whom thou haſt defied; I ſet upon the mortifying of theſe ſins, not by my own ſtrength, but in the power of Chriſt, whoſe glory and honor my ſins would take away. When Paul ſpake of that excellent temperament of grace, He knew how to abound, and how to want; he concludeth, I can do all things through him that ſtrengtheneth me, Phil. 4. 13. overcome nature, remove mountains, make the dead to live; thus it will be with thee, if thou adheareſt to God. Alas, what can an hand do, if ſeparated from the body? what the branch, if divided from the vine? no more can thy purpoſes or reſolutions, unleſs partaking of Chriſts influence: If therefore thou wouldſt not have yea and nay, as the Apoſtle excuſeth himſelf in another caſe, but thou wouldſt be ſetled in thy converſion to God, go out of thy own ſtrength, lean no more to thy own power, but cry out, Oh thy weakneſs, Oh thy impotency, Oh the guile and falſhood of thy heart; there is no more truſting of it, no more believing in it; and therefore Lord, let thy right hand uphold me. Do as the little childe, that hath attempted to go alone, but finding it cannot, holds the father by his hand, and then he is not afraid to go. Do as Peter; when ready to ſink in the waters, then he cryeth out then Chriſt holds his hand out to ſuſtain him.
Fifthly, If thou finde thy ſelf thus prone to break thy promiſes and reſolutions, 5.this ſhould not ſo much diſhearten, as make thee the more wary and diligent: Difficulties do not diſhearten, but inflame a reſolved ſpirit, even as ſtirring doth the fire. If oppoſitions and temptations ſhould take away all hope and confidence? then every man might ſit down with fear in the way to heaven, and ſay truly with the ſluggard, A Lyon is in the way, yea, many Lyons; but God hath made the way to heaven narrow and ſtraight, that ſo we may the more ſtrive to enter therein; and the violent muſt take heaven by force, even as the Iſraelites did the Land of Canaan: So then, though thy turning to God, put thee in many agonies, many fears, ſometimes in hope, ſometimes again in deſpair; yet let not this make thee caſt away the Anchor of Hope, and ſay as they did, It is in vain to pray, to reſolve, to ſeek any longer: That expreſſion of the Apoſtle, calling Hope an Anchor, Heb. 6. 9. is excellent to this purpoſe. Would it not be a wilde mad thing in a Marriner, when the waves ariſe, and ſtrong guſts beat his ſhip back, if he ſhould in that conflict throw away his Anchor? no leſs is thy folly, while thou art thus unconſtantly toſſed up and down, ſometimes in high reſolutions towards Heaven, ſometimes as low as hell; thou caſteſt away thy hope, which onelyonly would ſupport thee; Oh rather ſay, Theſe difficulties arguue a duty of the greater watchfulneſs; there is more reaſon for me to watch and pray, to fear and pray.
Sixthly, Let that encourage thee, while climbing up this high hill, That God hath made gracious promiſes, even to the leaſt ſparks, the leaſt beginnings of any good in a 6.man: How comfortable is that? The bruiſed reed he will not break, the ſmoaking flax he will not quench, Mat. 12. 20. as God ſaid about his Temple, None ſhould deſpiſe the day of ſmall things; ſo it is here, Let not ſmall things be deſpiſed: What is leſs then a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, and yet how quickly doth that overgrow other herbs! ſo that there is no doubt on Chriſts part, but that he is ready to draw thee, and to give legs to thee; the onelyonly queſtion is, Whether thou doeſt ſeek him with thy whole heart? let that be, and the Miniſters of God may inſure thee, that he will make little ſparks flame into a great fire: There is an excellent promiſe in Iſaiah, The faint and weary ſhall renew their ſtrength like an Eagle, Iſa. 40. 30, 31, 32. Oh then, ſit down and meditate on theſe gracious promiſes that are made, even to the Hungry, to the Thirſty, to ſuch who ſeek, though they have not found; never doubt on Gods help, onelyonly be ſure thou art ſincere and hearty in thy purpoſes, to turn unto him. Certainly, God that heareth the yong Ravens, and gives them food, will hear thoſe yong and infant crys and reſolutions of thine to better things.
Seventhly, This may alſo greatly incourage thee, though thou haſt many foils, That grace is far more potent then ſin: Though thy ſins be pleaſant, be made natural 7.to thee, though they grow up like weeds, of their own accord; and grace is a ſtranger, and a plant in an unnatural ſoil, while in thy heart, yet it is far ſtronger then thy ſtrongeſt corruptions; ſo that thy diſeaſes are not ſuch incurable ones, but that grace is a medicine and plaiſter potent enough to help thee; there is balm in Gilead: For as Chriſt is ſtronger then the Devil, therefore he judgeth him, and caſteth him out of the ſtrong holds he had; ſo grace is more effectual then ſin: Fear not then to grapple with thy luſts, ſay not they are above me, they are to ſtrong for me; for the ſeed of God, whereby a man is born of God, is ſtronger then this. Hence faith is ſaid to overcome the world, 1 John 5. 4. and as for outward helps, Greater is he that is with us, then thoſe that are againſt us; ſo for inward help alſo, if thy ſin be great, let the power of grace be alſo apprehended greater: The houſe of David will grow greater, and the houſe of Saul leſſer; make therefore thy arguments from without thy ſelf, not within; ſay, O Lord, thy grace can cure me, thy grace can deliver me out of this miry clay.
Eightly, Doeſt thou complain thy reſolutions take no effect, thou art ſtill where thou wert? conſider, if it be not, becauſe though thou purpoſeſt aganſt 8.ſin, yet thou doeſt not abſtain from the occaſions of it; and if ſo, no marvel if it be labor in vain: Never think to turn to God from thy ſins, if thou doeſt not turn from the occaſion of them: Alas, if thon haſt not ſtrength to avoid the occaſion of ſin; which is leſs? how canſt thou ſin it ſelf, which is the greater: He that reſolveth not to be burnt in the fire, will never come too near the flames; he that will not be inticed by the adulterous woman, muſt not come near her dwelling. Job that reſolved againſt uncleanneſs, made a covenant with his eyes. Paul that feared to be a caſt-away, kept down his body; thou mayeſt then eaſily ſee what undoeth thee: No marvel if the Bird that endeavoreth to fly up to heaven, fall down again, when a ſtring is on her foot: Thus thou haſt ſometimes heavenly reſolutions, heavenly meditations, but there is a ſtring on the foot, or rather a milſtone about the neck; and that is, the occaſion or temptation to ſome ſin, from which thou canſt not part: Separate thy ſelf therefore firſt from the occaſions of ſin, then the ſin will be more eaſily ſubdued; as the husbandman firſt cuts away the under buſhes and brambles, before he layeth his ax to the root of the tree: This is ſo great a matter, that our Saviour teacheth us to pray, Not to be lead into temptation; he doth not ſay, lead into ſin, but temptation; for that is opening the gate, that is the firſt tumbling down the hill, and it is hard to ſtop afterwards.
Laſtly, to quicken thee in thy reſolutions to turn unto God, though thou 9.often get falls; Conſider what the ſtrong appetites and purpoſes of men in natural and worldly things put them upon. Thoſe that will be rich, ſaith the Apoſtle, pierce themſelves through with divers cares, 1 Tim. 6. 9. Their earneſt deſire after theſe things, puts them upon all labor and toil day and night; every difficulty is eaſily devoured, per mare, per terras, &c. they compaſs ſea and land, and all to poſſeſs themſelves of theſe fading riches. Take the ambitious man, that hath a boundleſs and vaſt deſire after honor and greatneſs, he doth not onelyonly reſolve and reſolve, but is very induſtrious to compleat his deſigns: Take the malicious man, how unquiet in his ſleep, how reſtleſs in his thoughts, till he hath vented his poyſon! Now ſhall men in ſinful and unlawful ways, not onelyonly imagine wickedly; but conſtantly and effectually practiſe it? and ſhalt not thou be as active in the ways of godlineſs? Never then let this temptation binde thee hand and foot; and certainly if thy converſion to God could never be attained, if thy turning to him were impoſſible, yet its better and more ſafe to dye in combates and conflicts with theſe luſts, then out of diffidence to give up thy ſelf a priſoner to them: Its more noble to go lame to the grave, with thy ſtruglings againſt thy dear corruptions, then to become a voluntary ſlave to them.
The next valley to be exalted, is the greatneſs of a mans ſins (for other objections The ſecond diſcouragement is the greatneſs of a mans ſins.will come in more ſeaſonably elſewhere) and of this onelyonly very briefly: Thou art perſwaded to turn to God, thou couldſt readily ſet upon the work, but thy ſins have ſuch a gaſtly look, and are of ſuch a bloody nature, that thou doubteſt, God will never accept thee: But this is a vain fear; For
Firſt, The Iſraelites in the Text, were ſinners in as high a degree as ordinarily 1. Help.could be: If you regard the nature and quality of their ſins, if the means againſt which they rebelled, the obſtinacy and refractarineſs in them; all theſe things made them bloody and crimſon ſins; yet to theſe how pathetically and compaſſionately doth God ſpeak, Turn ye, turn ye! and it is univerſal; he doth not ſay, Turn ye onelyonly, that are ſinners of ſuch a degree, but as for the reſt, they are incureable; but he ſpeaks generally: So Jer. 3 7. I ſaid unto her, after ſhe had down all theſe things, Turn ye unto me; and in that Chapter many times, though they were an adultereſs and a backſliding people, yet he inviteth her to return: Therefore let not that caſt thee down.
Secondly, Fear not acceptation becauſe thou haſt been a great ſinner, for thy 2.Acceptation and Juſtification is not founded upon thy turning unto God: Thou art not pardoned and received into favor, becauſe thou art turned from thy evil ways: No, its Chriſt blood, not thy tears which maketh the atonement; its true, without this turning to God, there is no favor to be had from him, but its not becauſe of this: So that thy Converſion and thy Juſtification are two diſtinct things, they are ſeveral priviledges, and though never ſeparated, yet are always to be diſtinguiſhed.
Thirdly, Therefore turn unto God, even becauſe thy ſins are great; for the 3.greater they are, the more dangerous it is to continue long in them. As a man ſick of deſperate and dangerous diſeaſes, he hath a great cauſe to ſeek out for help: None have ſo great cauſe to turn, as thoſe that are ſo far gone out of the way; and thou needeſt more grace then others.
Uſe of Admonition, to you who are not yet given up to a reprobate heart, Uſe.and ſenſeleſs ſpirit, that have many ſecret deſires, yea, and ſerious purpoſes to turn from all your evil ways: Oh take heed how you quench theſe coals; be afraid of every thing that may ſuffocate and ſtifle theſe beginings; take heed, God may never give you theſe good thoughts any more, the Angel may never come down to ſtir the pool again. Oh! what a ſad thing is it to ſuffer ſhipwrack near the very haven; to be damned, when thou haſt even been entering duplicate page duplicate page into heaven! Oh that you were not almoſt, but altogether perſwaded to turn from your evil waies; it may be God may inſpire this holy purpoſe at this time in thy heart: Oh go home and cheriſh it, pray over it, mourn over it; ſay, O Lord, keep this alwaies in me: As thou haſt planted it, ſo water it, and give it ſure encreaſe.